Anew supermarket chain is investing £240,000 after acquiring four stores in Scotland for an undisclosed sum.

Haldanes Stores has been set up to snap up some of the 133 Co-operatives which are being disposed of following its acquisition of Somerfield.

The first Haldanes will be in Carluke, Lanarkshire, Prestonpans and Tranent, both East Lothian, and Broxburn, West Lothian. A Scottish operational base is also being established at Broxburn.

All 191 jobs in the existing stores are being transferred under the deal with each shop benefiting from a £30,000 rebrand and the same sum in IT improvements. Haldanes also aims to source 35 per cent of its product range from local suppliers. Arthur Harris, chairman, said: "To augment and differentiate the brand, Haldanes will have a local sourcing policy at the heart of its strategy. At present, many of the multiples have tried to engage local sourcing but we believe that none has managed it effectively.

"With our experience,we will look to negotiate margins at the same level, as those achieved by Somerfield and The Co-operative while at the same time leaving enough for the supplier to work with in promoting their products.

"In addition, customers will get better value on the products they want and the local suppliers will have a more sustainable business."

Prestonpans will be the first to be converted and will be open for trading from the middle of this month. Eventually Haldanes hopes to have up to 50 stores across the UK with turnover at each ranging from £1.4million to £7m.